Power Generation and Water Middle East will open on Sunday in Abu Dhabi with a focus on planning and sustainability following research which revealed that primary energy demand in the UAE will rise 71 per cent by 2019.

The UAE currently also has one of the highest rates of water consumption in the world and as a key stakeholder, Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (Adwea) is supporting the show as part of its strategy to create an efficient and sustainable power and water supply aligned with the Urban Planning Council’s (UPC) 2030 vision.

"The UAE is leading the Mena region in many aspects of creating sustainable solutions for the future and the energy sector is no different," said Anita Mathews, exhibition director of Water Middle East..

"Indeed, Abu Dhabi has already committed Dh60 billion to new projects over the next five years and with 16.8 per cent of the UAE’s population under the age of 15, water consumption is bound to rise considerably over the next 10 to 20 years."

"It is therefore vital that public and private corporations work together to produce a framework capable of meeting this growing demand," she added.

In total, 117 exhibitors from 26 countries will take part in the event, which covers all aspects of power generation and water resource sustainability from development and construction through to delivery and ancillary services. Notable participants include Siemens, Hyundai, NGK Insulators and SWAN Systems.

The Power & Water Leaders’ Forum, meanwhile, will also focus on delivering sustainable business practices. More than 300 delegates will hear from expert speakers from around the world, including the United States, United Kingdom, Jordan and the UAE.

The main topic under discussion will no doubt be the diverse avenues sustainability can take to support the region’s future energy and water needs from both a supply and financial perspective, she noted.

Giving the international keynote presentation, Scott Minos, Senior Policy & Communications Specialist, US Department of Energy, will discuss how the Obama Administration is adopting an alternative energy policy to that of George W. Bush and what the GCC can learn from its efficiency models.

Toufic Allaf, Technical Advisor of Business Planning & Performance at ADWEA will open the conference with a forum focusing on ensuring the capital’s sustainable supply of water and power.

Elsewhere on the programme, Darrin Rovere, president of Jordan-based Sustainability Excellence will outline why sustainable working practices are key to the future of power supply for the Middle East. During his presentation, he will also discuss sustainability as a management framework to tackle the transformative challenges facing the industry.

“It is not just supply demand issues that we are dealing with here, but the wider environmental impact if the region does not effectively manage its future water and energy needs. There are a number of sustainable options now in the market, which we must embrace to ensure uninterrupted energy and clean water supply for generations to come,” added Mathews.

Based on pre-registration numbers, Power Generation and Water Middle East will welcome over 50 per cent more visitors than the 2009 show. The total exhibition space is also up 50 per cent to 6,000 sq m.-TradeArabia News Service